Style really can be injected into just about anything–food, clothing, personality, and in this case, interiors. In the February of Architectural Digest, one such room heads to the top of the heap. No wonder it made the cover! It is in the Red Hook, New York (which is not terribly far from Hawthorne, and it is where we buy Bailey’s food) country home of Pieter Estersohn, photographer extraordinaire. While the entire Greek Revival house is pretty off the charts, the room that just makes it all sing is the art filled gallery/studio that doubles as guest quarters. Floor to ceiling artwork by his grandfather, mother, son and himself is on view. My number one design credo is that a home should be filled with only things you truly love. This home, and in particular, this room has it in spades. If you can get your hands on this issue (while standing at the grocery store check-out line, waiting at the dentist office, or if you subscribe) most certainly check it our for a hit of design happiness.

Up & out early today heading to San Francisco for a few days of buying at the Fancy Food Show. I will report back on my finds and happenings of a city near and dear to my heart.
A lovely start of the week to you,
TKW

Magazines are always such inspiration to me. Filled with visual ideas about design, food, flowers, entertaining, gifts–I always get a jolt of creative energy when perusing the pages. The July issue of Architectural Digest is one such gem. Country houses are the prevailing theme, and it is filled with page after page of creative ideas. I am always particularly fond of seeing the homes of creative folks I admire. I find them to be the most inspiring, as I think they create spaces that are truly unique to their vision. I have been a fan of the ethereal work of Victoria Hagan for more than 20 years. She creates highly livable spaces in a light and airy fashion. Her home on Nantucket is just beyond. A true statement of her vision and her design work. The Maine home of Martha Stewart is another gloriously visual feast. Her historic Seal Harbor estate is so handsome and woodsy and grand all at the same time. Not three descriptors you see describing a home in the same sentence often. Then there is Clove Brook Farm by fellow Hudson Valley resident, ceramists Christopher Spitzmiller, in Millbrook. Long a fan of his beautiful lamps, it was fun to see inside his stylish home. Albert Hadley was his mentor, and you can see the influence of Mister Hadley throughout each room, which I loved. The issue is just jam packed with inspiration & ideas. Our home is so important to our well-being. Whether that be a dorm room, a studio apartment, a city home, a country home, an estate–it is our sanctuary, our nest, our refuge. It should bring us happiness, contentment, cradle us in the good and bad times. It is our home.

Each word of the book is so lovingly spoken and your voice exudes such warmth and kindness. You are so genuine with your readers. And so interested in teaching them how to love… Love art…. Love nature… Love small things… Love friends… Love family… And love life.

— Haley from New York

Ted’s ‘Style & Simplicity’ is absolutely Lovely (with a capital L)! It’s also charming, fun to read, and full of wonderful advice.

— Newell Turner, Editor in Chief at House Beautiful

Ted Kennedy Watson has a most refined sense of aesthetics…and he shares some of his best secrets, for which I am so grateful!

— Lisa Birnbach, author of The Official Preppy Handbook

Ted, and his namesake fine good emporiums Watson Kennedy are legendary in this town. What he does brilliantly is quality over trend, substance over vapid style.

— Kaye Wellman, author Eat, Shop, Seattle

If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a stylized photo in a magazine this shop is a phenomenal fix for that as the merchandising is crazy delicious to feast your eyes upon.

— Uncle Beefy at thebedlamofbeefy.com

I feel like a kid in a candy shop every time I walk in the door.

— Apartment Therapy

I ordered ‘Style & Simplicity’ and it was delivered to my home in Hermanus, South Africa. What a delightful book and inspiration!

— Marlien on Facebook

The Seattle tastemaker behind Watson Kennedy: a personally curated store with the absolute best gifts, treasures, home goods, and hand-selected music.

— Town & Country

#genius #book @watsonkennedy #brilliant #perfect #gift

— Howard Slatkin on Instagram

Truly a visual feast for the eyes and palate.Thank you for sharing your abundance of “everything good”.We customers are transported to shopping heaven while in your store(s) and website.

— Blog reader Kris

We’ve long been fans of Seattle retailer Ted Kennedy Watson and his first title certainly lives up to it’s stylish name. The lavish A to Z guide is bursting with tips on how to create a cozy, chic and inviting home.